Forsake Me Not!

By Mike Demory

  “Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth...Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed Thy strength unto this generation, and Thy power to every one that is to come” (Ps. 71:9,18).

        WHO among us have been caught in a situation that made us struggle vehemently to stay alive when choking or unable to catch a breath? Or possibly drowning in some lake, river or swimming pool? It is within our nature to want to live, and we will use our last ounce of strength to do so. Months ago our nation and the world was grappling with a moral dilemma that if not answered quickly will in years to come, influence our societies view of “meaningful life.”

We were inundated with news flashes concerning the life and death of one Terry Schiavo. Disabled some 15 years ago due to a purported heart problem, Mrs. Schiavo was in what Attorney’s and Physician’s call a “persistent vegetative state.” Judge Greer of Florida past a death sentence upon this woman who was unable to speak and defend herself. This sentence was another victory of the proponents of passive and active euthanasia.

As Christians, we are pressed on every side with ethical decisions that could effect our eternal destiny. Surrogate motherhood? In Vitro Fertilization? Birth Control? Cloning? Living Wills? DNR’s (Do Not Resuscitate)? And the list can go on. All of these issues and more, well up an emotional state that appears to offer solutions; but are not in harmony with the will of God. Where should the child of God be standing when it comes to life and death decisions? On the side of God of course! President Bush remarked that we must “err on the side of life.” While this is true, we must first of all err on the side of God— “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). While the world is busy erring on the side of mans wisdom, arguing that the removal of a feeding tube is not the same as starving Mrs. Schiavo, the Christian must never get caught up in the same line of thinking.

How sad it is to see polls taken on whether a human life should be spared or taken. Over 60% of those polled believe in the “Right to die with dignity.” Does anyone with an ounce of common sense not believe that air, food and water are necessary to sustain the life of any human being or animal? The removal of such is certainly not dignified! God’s word tells us that  death is a fact of life (Heb. 9:27). Even king Solomon pointed this fact out when he said there is “a time to be born, and a time to die” (Ecc. 3:2). That time is not for any of us to determine.

While it may be both legal and medically accepted to withhold treatment or nourishment from men or women that the world views as “sub-human” (meaning: anyone not having a meaningful and productive life); such is not within the purview of God’s will. Every human being has been created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26). We are composed of two distinct parts—the physical and the spiritual. Paul  wrote, “but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16). James makes it absolutely clear that, “the body apart from the spirit is dead” (Jas. 2:26). Therefore, the body is alive, whether in a vegetative state or any form of incapacitating state, because the soul (the inward man) is still present. Thus, God commands, “thou shalt not kill” (Mk. 10:19). Mr. Schiavo has succeeded in convincing others that it is ok to “legally” kill his wife, and sadly, based upon an emotional Americans supported it.

Euthanasia, is a word that has been clouded in a flurry of buzz words to gain support for the humanistic and evolutionary view of life. Words like, “death with dignity,” or “Relieve suffering,” or “Quality of life,” and “showing compassion.” To further cloud the issue, euthanasia has even worked its way into becoming a civil and personal “right”! Since when do we have a “right” to die or kill? It is God who gives life and takes it away, not man. When dealing with life and death situations, Christians must ask themselves, “Am I trying to end my suffering, or the suffering of my loved ones?” Even if it is for the compassionate reason of ending a loved ones suffering, God still does not allow it. Suffering, whether we want to accept it or not, is part of life (Jas. 5:10; 1 Pet. 1:6-7; 2:19; etc.).

As Christians we should be totally against the “right-to-die” movement that is sweeping our nation and the world. Instead we should be fostering God’s will for the “Sanctity of Life” - from conception to natural death. While our heart strings may be tugging at the thought of anyone having to spend their life in bed, hooked up to feeding tubes, ventilators, etc.—the fact remains that they are still a human soul created in the image of God; and no one has the “right” to end that life or to consider that person “sub-human”  or less qualitative than others blessed with health. May all our actions be based totally and intellectually on the Word of God alone.